Paige: Broncos fans have stake in Shanahan, Kubiak for NFL playoffs

Have you lost that lovin' feeling for the Broncos' own former Righteous Brothers — Mike Shanahan and Gary Kubiak?

Well, as Bill Medley and Bobby Hatfield used to sing, bring it on back, wooooooh.

Broncos extremists must shift their allegiance to the Washington Redskins on Sunday and the Houston Texans on Monday and support their Ex-factors.

After Thursday night's victory in Oakland, when I asked three veteran Broncos in the locker room to discuss their postseason possibilities, they offered the standard, garden-variety, football-correct reply: "Aw, man, we're not thinking about the playoffs. It's your job to talk about that."

OK, I'm doing my job.

Houston Texans head coach Gary Kubiak. (Andy Lyons, Getty Images)

Twenty-one remaining games in the NFL regular season will determine the Broncos' circumstances in the postseason.

But the most important games at the moment are Baltimore at Washington and Houston at New England. Go, Mastermind and Kubes.

In this clip-and-save column I'm here to tell you what teams to cheer your lungs out for.

The Broncos (10-3) are one of seven teams in play in the AFC. The others are: Texans (11-1), Patriots (9-3), Ravens (9-3), Colts (8-4), Steelers (7-5) and Bengals (7-5). Dismiss the rest.

The Broncos privately are pulling for the Texans, the one team in the AFC they have little chance of catching. Even if the Texans should falter down the stretch, they own the head-to-head tiebreaker.

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But the Broncos aren't fearful of playing in Houston, because of the domed stadium (weather will not factor); the players honestly believe they can beat the Texans in a rematch, and the Broncos don't ever want to return to New England.

So, if the Texans and Kubiak defeat the Patriots on Monday night in New England, the Broncos would have a one-game lead over the Patriots for the No. 2 playoff spot — and be in position for a bye the first playoff weekend.

That is, depending on the Ravens' game Sunday at Washington against RGIII and Shanahan & Son. With a loss, the wobbly Ravens also would fall one game behind the Broncos.

Meanwhile, on Sunday, Dallas is at Cincy, Tennessee at Indy and San Diego at Pitt. The Broncos must be fans of the Bengals, the Titans and the Chargers. If the Broncos wind up No. 3 or 4 with a first-round home playoff game, the Bengals would be their preferred opponent. The Broncos already have won at Cincinnati, the weakest of the three potential wild-card teams.

The Broncos really don't want the Steelers again, despite what happened last year in the playoffs and in the opening game this season, and despite Ben Rothlisberger's injury.

The Denver Post's NFL reporters post analysis, notes and more on this blog focusing on the Denver Broncos.

The Colts would be the most dangerous of the trio. The imagination is shaken and stirred to consider Peyton Manning against Andrew Luck, and Manning against the team that threw him to the curb, but the Broncos would rather face Andy Dalton than Luck and those spirited Colts, inspired by the cancer challenge Chuck Pagano has confronted. Pagano is expected back by then — and would be returning home. He grew up in Boulder.

Next week, the Ravens are host to the Horse Force, of course. Winner probably gets the No. 2 seed behind the Texans. You know who to cheer for, but the Broncos are 0-4 in Baltimore against the Ravens. However, Manning has won his last seven games against the Ravens (four in Baltimore).

On Christmas weekend, Broncophiles will cheer for Broncos over the Browns, Bengals over Steelers in Pittsburgh, Giants over Ravens in Baltimore, Jaguars over Patriots in Jacksonville, Chiefs over Colts in K.C. and Vikings over Texans.

And, in the final week of the season, pull for the Broncos over the Chiefs, Houston to win at Indianapolis, Miami to win at New England, Baltimore to lose at Cincinnati, Cleveland to win at Pittsburgh. But it won't happen. Miami and Cleveland? Give me a break.

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